Explosive.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR L. BE IDIER, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

1 EXPLOSIVE.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR L. BEDIER, a native-born citizen of the United States of America, residing at 24334; Seventh avenue west, in the city of-Seattle, in the county of King and State of Vashin'gtom have invented a new and useful Explosive, of which the following is a specification.

This-invention relates to explosives.

The object of the invention is to provide an explosive which will have a pronounced and permanent color, which willleave little or no residue after explosion, and which shall present a highly glazed product, that will render the explosive non-hygroscopic, thus to prevent deterioration.

\Vith the above and other objects in view as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel explosive compound, hereinafter described and claimed.

In carrying out my invention, the follow ing ingredients are combined in substantially the proportions stated namely: powdered potassium chlorate 736 oz., commercial cane sugar 480 02., commercial hard Wheat bolted flour 320 oz., chrysophanic acid 2 '02., curcuma, 1 oz., denatured alcohol 30 .oz., water, substantially pure, 120 oz. The above proportions of parts are sutlicient to produce 96 pounds of my compound and are the units of its manufacture.

Thecompound is produced by the mingling of theabove mentioned component parts in the ratios stated in the following manner, to-wit: First: The chrysophanic acid, curcu'ma, and the denatured alcohol are mixed thoroughly together by agitation, allowed to rest for four hours, and then filtered for the removal of all residue that is insoluble, the solution being composed of chrysophanic acid, and curcumin, the coloring principle of curcuma. Second: The Hour and powdered potassium 'chlorate are mixed in their dry state by thoroughly stirring together, or by passing through a screen or sieve.

- Third: The crystalline carbohydrate. n this instance cane sugar, is dissolved in the water and boiled for fifteen minutes. Fourth: The alcoholic solution of chrysophanic acid and curcumin is added to the sugar and water solution while the latter is hot, care being takcn'to keep the same from contact with flames. Fifth: To the llour and potassium chlorate compound this final solution is added by stirring it into the same while con- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented an. 1 7, 1911. Application filed November 7, 1910. Serial No. 591,158.

tained in a suitable vessel provided for that purpose, the stirring being continued until the compound presents a smooth mass. Sixth: "hen this last formed composition has been brought to the proper consistency and smoothness and while the same is'still warm, it is passed through one of the wire screens or sieves hereinafter described by rubbing itthrough the meshes thereof, thereby separating the mass into granules which are caught 011 canvas or cloth frames over which they are spread;. Seventh: The frames containing the granules are then placed in J IOOIH, and with or without artificial heat the granules are permitted to dry, thus completing the procedure and presenting the explosive in marketable form and ready for use.

The screens or sieves, above referred to are made of galvanized wire mesh or screen wire of from four (4) to twenty ('20) meshes to the square inch, and different sized meshes are used because it is a well known fact. that the larger the granules of the explosive, the slower will be the explosion, and the greater the lifting power. Hence the result to be obtained by the use of the various size meshes of the screens or sieves is to,forn'i granules in such varied sizes as that the e.\i-'

plosion ot' the same may be retarded or qulckcned in accordance with the p: irlu ut l:1r purpose for which the explosive is being used.

This explosive is smokelcssand odorless, and is to be exploded with fuse and fulminating mercury cap. or by an electric cap and battery when used fol-blasting purposes, or as a lifting or breaking agent, and for use in ordnance and fire arms of all kinds, and is loaded and fired in the same manner as ordinary gun powder.

The curcumin not similar in its effect to the chrysoplmnic. acid, but it gives a permanent color to the compound in association with its other ingredients, and to obtain a uniform indelible color is one of the reasons o1. its use therein. It is furthermore employed because of tlu-Jproperty it has, when mixed with the chrysophanic acid, of causing the granules to become coated or glazed thus to prevent. adhesion and further to render the product non-liygroscopic when fully dried.

mancnt "ellow color that adds largely to the commercial value of the powder, as winch further oil'ect of the cm'cumin on the compound is to impart therein a per color I have been unable to obtain by the use of any other in redient or ingredients. I have also'been und ble with the use of any otheringredient or in redients to assist the chrysophanic acid inglazing the'granules of the com ound.

The ifi'erence in the effect of the curcumin and the chryso hanic acid in its use to its glazing in the compound is, t at curcumin in solution with chrysophanic acid roduces the color and glazing of the attic es, and revents adhesion and exclu s moisture w ile the chrysophanic acid possesses, in addition roperties a marked aflinity for oxygenat t etime of explosion, and its presence adds to its detonatlng power, and

further, its addition leaves the com ound ,practic'ally vwithout residue after exp osion.

Iheconipoundwhen used with the chrysoph'anic' acid in experiments andupon tests gives a much higher detonation than whenomitted. It follows from the above, therefore, that neither one of these ingredients could be substituted .for the other and that they have difierent uses though in a certain degree they jointly produce certain results, by reason of afiinity. No substitute has been found for either of these ingredients independently 'or in conjunction.

The method of mixing this compound imparts -appreciable and added efliciency to the obtaining of perfect detonation at the,

time of explosion, independent of the detonation that would be obtained by ha hazard intermingling of all of these ingre ients in the percentages that are used informing the compound.

I claim 1. The herein described explosive consistof potassium chlorate, a crystalline car-- 1n boiydrate, hard wheat bolted flour, chrysophanic acid, and a coloring agent. 4 2. The herein described explosive consistin of potassium chlorate, sugar, hard wheat bo ted flour, chrysophanic acid and a coloring agent.) a

3. he herein described explosive consisting ofpotassium chlorate, sugar, hard wheat bolted flour, chrysophamc acid and curents substantially.in the roportions specipotassium chlofied by weight: powdere rate 736 02., commercial cane sugar 480 01., commercial hard wheat bolted flour 320 oz., chrysophanic acid 2 oz., curcumin sufficient to color.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

vic'ron L. BEDIER.

' Witnesses: i A

CASH COLE, Jo Rowe. 

